This week’s Action Comics #991 confirms that Mr. Oz really is Jor-El, and his ability to withstand Kryptonite are linked to his last-second rescue from an exploding Krypton.

The issue, by Dan Jurgens and Viktor Bogdanovic, continues the “Oz Effect” storyline that’s been revealing the history and nature of the mysterious Mr. Oz. In previous issues, Mr. Oz told Superman and his family that he was actually Jor-El, the biological father of Superman (Kal-El). He claimed to be ripped from the surface of Krypton at the last second, imprisoned by an all-powerful entity, and forced to witness the worst of humanity’s history.

Now his mission is to expose how hopeless humans are to his son and rescue his family from the impending threat of the unseen powerful character who imprisoned him.

In fact, readers get to see a bit of the powerful character’s handiwork at the end of the issue – presumedly the work of Dr. Manhattan, who will be fighting Superman and friends in the upcoming mini-series Doomsday Clock.

Let’s take a look at how the issue answered a few questions about Mr. Oz, resolved the “Oz Effect” storyline, and set things up for the future.

Question: Superman discovers the room where Mxyzptlk was imprisoned. Superman asks Oz, “you were his jailer?”

Answer: Oz says he did it to save his son.

Question: Oz uses his eye to send an energy blast toward his son. But it’s not the normal Kryptonian heat vision. It’s Kryptonite of some kind. Superman asks, how?

Answer: Oz had Krytonite lodged into his body when Krypton exploded (a split-second before he was transported away). “Rather than let it kill me, as it should have, I’ve been evolved to control it,” he says.

Question: Superman sees that Doomsday was imprisoned in Oz’s home. “But I sent him to the Phantom Zone,” Superman says.

Answer: “I’m the one who discovered the Phantom Zone,” Oz says defiantly. “Intercepting the projector beam to bring him here was simplicity itself.” Oz says he feared that someone would find Doomsday and use him against his son.

Question: Why is Oz in such a hurry to get Superman and his family off Earth?

Answer: “I don’t like doing this, but I know what’s coming,” Oz says. “It’s so much bigger, so much more powerful than you.”

Question: What’s up with Oz’s staff? Superman grabs Oz’s staff and breaks it in half. “SNAPPT.”

Answer: Superman says, “The energy surrounding this staff is toxic. … Were you controlling it, or was it controlling you?” Oz explains that the Krytponite was lodged in his skull after the explosion, and the staff eased his pain. “It made me …. he made me … I never meant to hurt anyone,” Oz says.

Superman is transported back to the Fortress of Solitude. He wonders to himself if his father’s predictions for the future are true. After all, this entity was powerful enough to manipulate Jor-El. Could he be powerful enough to defeat all of Earth?